BSI British Standards this week launched a standard for planning and managing sustainable events that is designed to help firms limit the environmental impact of conferences, festivals and sporting events.
The standard, BS 8901, sets out the best practices for planning and managing a sustainable event, including measures to reduce carbon emissions and waste, reuse equipment and infrastructure, and protect historic sites. It also outlines how to assess social impacts on local communities and ensure fair employment.
The BSI said the standard would be applicable to a wide variety of events, ranging from large one-off events, such as the 2012 Olympics, to smaller, regular festivals or conferences.
A spokeswoman for the BSI said organisations using the standard would be able to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable events and possibly reduce costs through lower energy use and reduced waste levels.
Firms wishing to comply with the standard must define and implement a sustainability policy and monitor and evaluate the event against key performance indicators.
Currently, the standard requires firms to self-certify their events, but the BSI's spokeswoman said that formal accreditation processes may be introduced. " If there is enough demand for certification from the events industry, UKAS, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, may consider providing accreditation for certification bodies," she said. "Accreditation would ensure that the certification process is of a consistently high standard."
Russell Seymour, projects officer at Lord's Cricket Ground, which trialled the standard, said that it had delivered quantifiable business benefits. "BS 8901 provides a valuable framework within which to set targets around waste recycling and energy usage," he said. "The standard brings the potential for cost savings, both in reducing landfill tax and on bills."
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